Smart acoustic drum and sing competition system

ABSTRACT

A system that wirelessly integrates actual drum equipment and singing equipment with a computer and the internet to allow musicians and or singers remotely located from one another to play music a competitive simulated game of music and or singing. An individual musician may opt to play music solo or practice to improve basic drumming or singing techniques. The system includes smart drum systems, an audio detection system and a drum motion sensing device, all containing circuits and contact or motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry, thereby wirelessly communicate game performance information to a remote receiver-computer. The computer display musician and or singing information and visually simulates and controls a musical and or singing game between two musicians, via the internet, having similar equipment and remotely located from each other. Standard drums may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such drums into “smart drums” for use with the system. Standard microphones may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such microphones into “smart microphones” for use with the system or any music implement. The system employs specially developed computer software to process musician performance data, control game play music, communicate game information between musicians and or singers musicians, generate and control visual simulations and display music musician performance information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/13,722, filed May12, 1999 for all subject matter common hereto. That provisionalapplication is incorporated by reference herein. This is a divisionalapplication and the parent application for this divisional applicationis, 09/570,233.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

A microfiche appendix including 1 microfiche with 27 frames accompaniesand forms a part of this application.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a smart musical instrument and smart singingsystem coupling music equipment, singing, and a computer. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a system wherein musicalinstruments and singers communicate wirelessly to a computer andthereby, if desired, to a remote participant or group via the internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of patented drum and singing devices embody sensing componentsand software. Typically, these devices display music information thatrelates to drummer's stroke, and singing style. The information isdisplayed or signaled by the drum and smart singing systems orsimulations of drum and smart singing systems via interactive softwareand electronics. None of these cooperates with drum strokes and singingstyles that sense each actual drum stroke or strokes and singing stylesfor local and or remote interactive drum and singing musicalinteraction.

It is desirable to remotely communicate the actual performance locationand music of the singing musician, whereby more sophisticated analysisand prediction possibilities are realizable via computer technology andstate-of-the-art display music techniques. Further, it is also desirableto use such performance information in an expanded capacity to provideinteractive music and singing competition amongst numerous music andsinging musicians in locations remote from each other.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a system that interconnects real music musicalinstruments or other music instruments and or singers to a computer. Ina preferred embodiment the computer is coupled wirelessly to one or moremusical instruments and singers. Further, the invention, summarizedbelow, allows one or more musicians and singers to enter into acompetition against each other. Each musician and or singer logs-in toask the computer who is available to practice or play music in a musicaland or singing contest. Once a musician and or singer pairs up againstanother musician and or singer anywhere in the world and musical playand or singers sing and play ensues, the computer and display show eachmusical and singing participant's score via animation or graphics thatpreferably relate to a musician's and singer's individual performancestatistics. A single singer and or musician may practice singing, orplay music without a musician or singing opponent and improve basicmusical rhythm and singing skills using the computer and music to tracktheir performance. The system application is unlimited and much of thissystem can be used not only for music and singing competition on theInternet, but for other musical instruments and singers as well. Musicalimplements and singers with sensors attached according to this inventionare used for training purposes, for interactive musical and singinginternet competition. The technology can be used for training,competition, and the improvement of music response related reflexes andcoordination. With little or no modification, the technology also hasapplications in medicine, particularly musical physical therapy.

1. Smart Drum Instrument

A wireless drum instrument is constructed to contain or alternatively, astandard drum instrument is modified to contain, a multiple drumtriggers, sensors or transducer array located on the drum head or faceor hitting surface. Upon impact of the head of the drum with a drumstick the impacted sensors produce detectable variances representing themagnitude and duration of the drum-drum stick impact force and theproximate location of such contact relative to the preferred location,on the face of the drum head. The variances are electronically processedinto digitally coded information and remotely transmitted by anelectrical communication circuit either contained within or attached tothe drum head or face.

In each of the drum instrument device according to this invention, in apreferred embodiment the transducer are or include piezoactive elementsand or drum triggers. As used herein “piezoactive” includespiezoelectric and piezoresistive components. Piezoactive components aredefined as components the electrical properties of which, when thecomponent is subjected to physical force, vary. A drum trigger convertsenergy produced by stick attack into electrical impulses. The impulsesare then supplied to the drum module (brain of the system).

The smart drum instrument system uses biofeedback to create anintelligent drum training and entertainment system. The smart druminstrument system is a diagnostic and analysis tool used to improve adrummers skills by instantaneous by visual and acoustic feedback andcue's with little or no human intervention. The smart drum instrumentsystem takes the generated data and reconstructs it into a useful visualformat which can be presented in a variety of ways including3-dimensional animation. The smart drum instrument system integratedcircuit or circuits can be designed anywhere within the drum includingthe head and or drum stick.

The smart drum instruments has the means via its built inmicrocontroller to process, analyze, store, stick hitting pattern dataand transmit it to the computer and or the Internet for furtheranalysis. In playback mode the smart drum instrument system memorizeshow many times each sensor was hit. This allows the drummer to know hisor her hitting pattern. Using a computer algorithm, we can analyze andcalculate a drum stroke pattern and having a musical personalized drumhitting detection system for each musician.

2. Smart Singing System

A smart singing system has a microphone attached or is detachable to asinger. The smart microphone can be held in the hand of a singer or wornon the singer's chess area. The smart microphone that is hand held orworn on the singer has a transducer built-in, when touched by the singeror impacted by the singer's hand, the sensor produces a detectablevariance representing impact with the hand. The variance iselectronically processed into display coded information and remotelytransmitted by an electrical communication circuit. In one preferredembodiment the communication circuit is contained within the smartmicrophone. Preferably, the communication circuit for the smartmicrophone is located inside the stem.

The singing system uses biofeedback to create an intelligent singtraining entertainment system. The smart singing system is a diagnosticand analysis tool used to improve a singer's skills by visual andacoustic feedback cues with little or no human intervention. The singingsystem takes the generated data and reconstructs it into a useful visualformat which can be presented in a variety of ways including3-dimensional animation.

In each of the drum set device and smart microphone device according tothis invention, in a preferred embodiment the transducers are or includepiezoactive elements. As used herein, “piezoactive” includespiezoelectric and piezoresistive components. Piezoactive components aredefined as components the electrical properties of which, when thecomponent is subjected to physical force, vary.

3. Wireless Signal Receiver and Computer

At each remote player site, wireless radio frequency equipment receivesthe digitally coded transmitted signals from the drum set, themicrophone, and the drum swing motion sensing device and audio feedback.The signals are demodulated and processed into serial binary datasuitable for communications to the computer via either serial orparallel ports. As the game progresses, the computer under the controlof the musical software, monitors and directs the flow of communicationsbetween the musicians and singers via the internet and displays themusic and singing game simulations and performance information.

4. Computer Drumming Software System

At each remote player site, a computer under the control of the drummingand singing software, monitors and controls the sequential play of themusical and singing game and interacts with the musical game and orsinging player game at the site and also competing musical and singingplayers at the other remote sites via the internet. The software systemgenerates the musical and singing game simulations for display andtracks each musical player's and singing player's performance as themusical and or singing game progresses. The above further features andadvantages of the invention will be better understood with reference tothe accompanying drawings and the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of components of a computerimplemented drum system according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a drum with sensors and circuitry and usedin the computer implemented system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 Smart Microphone with Sensor and Hand Grasping Smart Microphonewith Sensor.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic front plan view of a putter with a drum headand circuitry forming a further, alternative embodiment of a drum foruse with the computer implemented system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a drum head electronicsinstallation for use with the drum heads of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

FIG. 6 Tripad Sensor with three different activation areas or Top planview of a drum stick sensing element with three activation areas for usein the drumming surface strokes of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4

FIG. 6 was previously FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a singing and drum electronicsinstallation for communicating with the computer in a computerimplemented system according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 was previously FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a computer installation for use as thecomputer and information receiving interconnect of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 replaces FIG. 10.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the software operation of thecomputer of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrative of a portion of the operation of thecomputer of FIG. 8 operating as indicated in the block diagram of FIG.9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes awireless smart drum system 20, a wireless audio detection system 22, awireless drum motion sensing plate 24, a wireless receiver 26 connectedto a computer 28, and a display or monitor 30 with speakers 31 operatedunder the control of drum system software 32, and connected via theinternet to an internet drum game server 34 (called herein the GGCserver)

1. Smart Drum System

The smart drum system 20 has a head 40 and a stick 42. As shown in FIGS.2 and 3, the head 40 has a drum stick opening 42, a plurality ofembedded contact sensors 46 (three are illustrated in the preferredembodiment), and the internal electronics circuitry 48 including awireless radio frequency transmitter (58 in FIG. 5). As shown, at leastone of the sensors 46 is located at or proximate to the optimal locationon a drum face 47 for contact with the drum stick. The contact sensorsmay be, but are not limited to sensors employing piezoactive typetransducers or drum triggers, specifically, either piezo-electric orpiezo-resistive transducers (similar, but is not limited to the CooperInstruments LPM 562).

In an alternative embodiment, FIG. 2, three sensors 46 are applied tothe face of an adapted drum by a mylar tape or other means 49. Again,the electronic circuitry is internal to the drum head 40 and connects tothe sensors 46 by leads 27.

In a second alternative embodiment, to retrofit a standard drum, contactsensors 46 are part of an adapter 40 attached to an ordinary drum headas seen in FIG. 4 and wire connected to an electronic circuitry 48attached to the drum stick 42 or elsewhere on the drum. A drum stickcontacting any sensor 46 produces a detectable variance indication themagnitude and duration of sensor-ball impact. The variance may be achange in resistance of a piezo-resistive transducer or a voltage changein the case of a piezo-electric transducer. As shown in FIG. 5, thevariance is detected and amplified by an associated amplifier 52 and isthe input to an associated integration circuit 54, the output of whichrepresents the energy of the ball-drum contact event. Connected to theintegration circuit 54, a microprocessor 56 is a multi-input signalprocessing circuit (similar, but not limited to a Motorola #68HCO5)having analog to digital signal converting circuits (ADCs), one for eachinput channel, and a sequential digital signal encoding circuitconnected so as to convert the ADC outputs into a time multiplexedserial digital data stream containing a binary-coded word for eachchannel indicating the energy of the associated sensor-ball impactevent.

A radio frequency transmitting circuit 58 receives the serial digitaldata from the microprocessor 56 and wirelessly transmits the informationvia an internal antenna 60 to a receiver 26 (FIG. 1) for subsequentprocessing by the computer 28. Using programming as contained in theaccompanying microfiche appendix, one skilled in the art can readilyaccomplish the game programming described. Alternative programming toowill be apparent from the foregoing functional description and theillustrations contained in the appended drawings.

2. Smart Microphone

The smart microphone uses 22 in FIG. 1, to allow voice inputs, as shownin FIG. 3. The smart microphone has a contact sensor pad 64, shown inFIG. 6, containing at least one contact sensor (three differentactivation areas 65, 66, and 67 are illustrated in the preferredembodiment). The internal circuitry includes a wireless radio frequencytransmitter (as shown in FIG. 5). Additional sensor activation area 65and 67 are adjacent, one on either side of the center area 66. In thepreferred embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, and like the sensor used atthe face of the drum and smart microphone, the sensors may be, but arenot limited to, sensors employing piezo-active type transducers,specifically, either piezo-electric or piezo-transducers.

A hand touching the smart microphone 60 and containing the sensor pad65, 66, or 67 produces a detectable variance indicating the hand-sensorsmart microphone event. The variance may be a change in resistance inthe case of a piezo-resistive transducer (similar, but not limited toCooper Instruments LPM 562) or a voltage change in the case of apiezo-electric transducer. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the variance isdetected and amplified by an associated amplifier 71. The amplifiedsignal then is input to a microprocessor 72 having an analog to digitalsignal converting circuit (ADC) and a digital signal encoding circuitconnected so as to convert the ADC output representing the sensorssignals into a serial digital data stream containing a binary coded wordindicating the sensor-hand contact event. The microprocessor 72 may bethe same or similar to the microprocessor 56 of the drum systemelectronics.

A radio frequency transmitter circuit 74 receives the serial digitaldata from the microprocessor 72 and wirelessly transmits the informationvia an internal antenna 76 to the receiver 26 (FIG. 1) for subsequentprocessing by the computer 28. The smart microphone configuration issusceptible to much variation. The smart microphone illustrated anddescribed above is well suited to indoor use, on carpet for example.

3. Wireless Signal Receiver and Computer

At each player site, a wireless radio frequency signal receiver 26 isconnected to the computer 28 by either the serial (USB) or parallelcomputer ports, as shown in the functional block diagram, FIG. 8. Thewireless signal receiver 26 detects digitally coded radio frequencytransmissions from the communication circuit associated with any of asmart drum system 20, a smart microphone 22, as shown in FIG. 1. Thereceived transmission are demodulated by the RF receiver circuitry 122(FIG. 10) connected to a microprocessor 124, which converts thedemodulated data signal to serial binary coded data suitable forcommunications to a computer 28. The computer 28, under the control ofthe internally installed golf system software program, monitors anddirects the flow of communications between remotely located players viathe internet and displays the game simulations and performanceinformation. In appropriate installations the wireless electromagneticsignals that communicate with the receiver may be infraredcommunications.

5. Computer Drumming Software

At each remote player site, the computer 28 (FIG. 1) under the controlof the drumming software program (shown in the drumming software systemfunctional block diagram, FIG. 9) monitors and control initializationand the sequential play of the drumming and singing game, oralternatively, the individual musician and or singer player practicesession. Upon start up by a musician and or singer player at aparticular site, the system input parameters are set and the systeminternet and music and or singer player port interfaces are initialized130 as indicated by the arrows 130 a and 130 b. For internetcommunications, the serial port listener of the computer 28 is enabledin the preferred embodiment. A remote player event listener isinitialized. It will communicate events from one or more of the smartdrum system, the smart microphone and the motion sensor plate. The mainoperational software (program) thread is run 130, and the system awaitsdata input from the appropriate computer communications ports at 132(port), 133 (Remote player Socket Event Listener).

If the competitive play mode has been selected, the program generates aplayer participation request and sends 134 the request to the GGC gameinternet server (GGC server) 34 (FIG. 1). Upon identification of aplayer opponent at 150 (FIG. 12) by the GGC server, the programinitiates the player identification sequence 152 and sequential playbegins 154 (This software sequence and control routine occurs at eachremote site where play has been initiated. During the game playsequences 154, the program generates the appropriate animation, display,and audio data and commands 136 and 138 (FIG. 9), and communicates withthe associated display and speaker devices 30 and 31 (FIG. 1). Upon theoccurrence of a local player event, detected at 133, the main operatingprogram at 130, displays the event at 136, and communicates the event at132 by causing a device transmission at 137 to be send at 134 via theinternet GGC server 135 which displays the event for the opposing playerand alerts the opposing player it is his/her turn to play. The localplayer event may be, but is not limited to the smart drum systemimpacting a ball, the swing of a club across the sensing plate or theballs entry into the receptacle. The program contains time delay limitsfor the player action, and delays of play beyond these limits generateplay quit and disconnect signals. The event at 133 also has the effectof indicating at 139 that it is no longer the local players turn andenables (as indicated by line 139) the serial port listener at 132 todetect an event from the remote player, again via the internet.

If the single music and or singer player practice mode is selected, theinternet communications sequences are disabled, other softwaresequential operating routines continue as above described and theplayers drum system stroke, hand-smart microphone contact, and audiofeedback information are communicated only to the computer located atthe players site and the performance information analyzed and displayeronly at the local players site.

When a game is won, lost, or terminated, the drum software systemgenerates the appropriate output signals 156 (FIG. 10, displays theplayer performance information, and resets to initial pre-gameconditions. If one player opponent quits the game or is “timed out” (dueto excessive delay in play) and the remaining player wishes to continueplay, the software resumes an internet search for another opponent 152and 153.

Using programming as contained in the accompanying microfiche appendix,one skilled in the art can readily accomplish the game programmingdescribed. Alternative programming too will be apparent from theforegoing functional description and the illustrations contained in theappended drawings.

While a preferred embodiment has been described, it will be appreciatedthat many variations and modifications in the system, its operation, andits various components may be made without departure from the spirit andscope of invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A computerized interactive drum, music, and singing systemcomprising: At least two remote player sites comprising: Musicimplements comprising a drum, drum sticks, guitars, and a smartmicrophone comprising a microphone with sensors attachable anddetachable to said guitar, drum, and drum sticks; A first array ofsensors mounted on the face side of said drum-head of said drum set; Asecond array of sensors comprising one or more contact sensors mountedto a smart microphone; A first computer programmed to process dataderived from data acquired by said first and said second sensor arrays.A first communications link for transmitting data derived from said dataacquired by said first sensor array to said first computer; A secondcommunications link for transmitting data derived from said dataacquired by said second remote sensors to said first computer; and Adisplay monitor connected to said first computer; A second computerprogrammed to communicate with at least two remote player sites; A thirdcommunications link for transmitting data derived from said dataacquired by said first computers to said second computer; and A fourthcommunications link or medium for transmitting data derived from saiddata acquired by said second computer to at least one of said firstcomputers; Wherein said first computer is further programmed to analyzethe performance of a person drumming said drum set and or singing saidsong so that said drum sticks strike a drum head and said soundacoustics from voice modulation with said performance analysis beingbased on said derived data transmitted by said first and secondcommunications links; and to further control said display monitor todisplay the results of said performance analysis; Wherein said secondcomputer is programmed to cause the transfer of local player events froma remote player site to another remote player site for presentation toanother musician, person, and or singer, notify musician and or singerwhen it is their respective turn to play music and or sing, measureplayer time delays, disconnect musician and or singers remote sites withexcessive time delays, and conduct an Internet search for anothermusician and or singing opponent if the remaining player wishes tocontinue play.
 2. The computerized interactive music and singing systemas recited in claim 1, wherein said first computer is further programmedto send the results of said performance analysis to said second computerupon completion of said performance analysis via said thirdcommunications link.
 3. The computerized interactive music and singingsystem as recited in claim 1, wherein said third sensor comprises motionsensing devices or a motion detector mounted internally or externally tosaid drum set or a music implement, or internally or externally to saidsmart microphone or sound implement.
 4. The computerized interactivemusic and singing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said firstsensor array comprises piezoactive transducers, drum triggers, pressure,and or force sensors.
 5. The computerized interactive music and singingsystem as recited in claim 1, further comprising electronic circuitryfor outputting to said first communications link a signal representingthe energy and momentum of a drum stick contact event derived from dataacquired by said first sensor array.
 6. The computerized interactivemusic and smart singing system as recited in claim 5, wherein saidelectronic circuitry comprises a computing device mounted to said drumset, music implement, or music device, said smart microphone, audioimplement, or audio device programmed to convert data acquired by saidfirst, second, and third sensor arrays into a time-multiplexed serialdigital data stream containing a respective binary coded word for eachchannel.
 7. The computerized interactive music and singing system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said second computer comprises a musicimplement and music and singing competition server connected to saidfirst computer via a network, which comprises the fourth communicationslink, wherein said first computer is further programmed to process datafrom said music implement and music and singing competition serverrepresenting the user performance of a competition at a remote siteduring the turn of said competitor; wherein said music implement andmusic and singing competition server selects remote players from a queueof awaiting players in response to a first musician and or singerindicating a readiness to play or compete.
 8. The interactivecompetition server system as recited in claim 7, wherein said musicimplement and music and singing competition server is programmed toestablish connections amongst subscribing players at a plurality ofremote locations via said network.
 9. The interactive competition serversystem as recited in claim 7, wherein said second computer is furtherprogrammed to create and manage a plurality of music and singing gamesand music and or singing competitors or players wherein said gamescomprise one or more said first computers of opponents connected to saidfirst computer; Wherein each first computer comprises a network port forconnecting to said network, a serial data port for receiving a serialdata stream from a respective set of sensors designed to detect themotion of respective music or singing equipment items or controllersbeing manipulated by a respective musicians and singers and a port forconnecting to its respective display monitor where each first computeris programmed to perform the following: Processing the digital datastream from said respective set of sensors into music and singing gamedata having a format representing music and singing game results forsaid first computer player; controlling the respective display monitorto provide visual feedback concerning the progress of the game;Transmitting said game data from said first computer player to saidsecond computer that comprises said competition server; and Polling saidcompetition server for receipt of game data and or messages fromopponents or players at remote sites.
 10. The interactive competitionmusic and singing system as recited in claim 9, includes electronicmusic and singing equipment further comprising an electronic drum set orstandard drum set retrofitted with electronic devices and an electronicsmart microphone or standard microphone retrofitted with electronicdevices operably connected to said first computer and said music andsinging competition server via a network.
 11. A computerized interactivedrum and Of music system, wherein said first computer programmingcomprises: A serial port listener software program that receivesacquired data from said first, second, and third sensor arrays; a socketevent listener that receives data from said competition server; and amain thread for alternately processing data received by either saidsocket event listener or said serial port listener in accordance withsports competition format wherein acquired data from said first, saidsecond, and said third sensor arrays are processed by said firstcomputer and the results are sent to said music and singing competitionserver only if data has been previously received from said music andsinging competition server indicating that it is that musician and orsinger's turn to play a music implement, sing, and or sound implement,otherwise, acquired data from said drum set, said drum set motionsensing devices, said audio system, said audio system motion sensingdevice and said computer if data has been previously received from saidmusic and singing competition server indicating that it is a remoteplayer's turn to play a musical implement and or sing; Whereincontrolling the reception of data received from said first, said second,and said third sensor arrays is allowed only on that musician's and orsingers turn thus allowing sequential play, the use of one or more saiddrum sets, guitars, music implements, and the use of one or more saidsmart microphones.
 12. The computerized interactive smart music andsinging system as recited in claim 5, wherein said computer programmingfurther comprises single-musician training software providing trainingas a function of the data received from said drum, said drum motionsensing device, music implements, and said audio system.
 13. Thecomputerized interactive music and singing system as recited in claim 1,wherein said first computer further comprises audible drumming musicimage simulation and display software for displaying images thatsimulate the results of said performance and analysis and comprisesaudible songs from singer's image simulation and display software fordisplaying images that simulate the results of said performance.
 14. Acomputerized interactive drum system comprising: A drum or music systemcomprising a drum, drum sticks, and a smart microphone comprising amicrophone with sensors attachable and detachable to said drum and drumsticks; A row of sensors mounted on said face of said drum set of saiddrums for acquiring data from respective channels, and said acquireddata representing the force, time of contact, energy, frequency, andposition of the impact of a drum stick relative to each impacted sensoron drum head; An accelerometer attached to said drum set, music and orsinging tool, music implement and or audio implement to detect spatialtranslational motion and or rotational orientation of a drum stick andor smart microphone, music implement or audio implement adapted to senseacceleration along three orthogonal axes; A first computer having a datainput port for receiving data and an output port for communicating withsaid display monitor of said first computer; A first communications linkfor communicating data derived from said impact data acquired by saidrow of sensors in said respective channels to said data input port. 15.The computerized interactive music and singing system as recited inclaim 1, wherein said first communications link comprises a telemetrysystem and comprises a wireless transmitter housed inside or attached tosaid drum set and or smart microphone and a wireless receiver coupled toan input port of said first computer as said first communications linkto said first computer.
 16. The computerized interactive smart music andsinging system as recited in claim 6, wherein said first computerfurther comprises audible image simulation and display music softwarefor the display of real and simulated musical implement images,participants, quality, and the results of said analysis.
 17. Thecomputerized interactive smart music and smart singing system as recitedin claim 5, wherein said computer programming further comprisessingle-musician training software providing training as a function ofthe data received from said drum, said drum motion sensing device, andsaid audio system.
 18. The computerized interactive music and smartsinging system as recited in claim 5, wherein said second communicationslink further comprises a wireless transmitter mounted inside said audiosystem in a wireless receiver coupled to an input port of said firstcomputer is said second communications link to said first computer. 19.The system of claim 14, wherein the first computer processor is adaptedfor at least one of identifying a stroke, recognizing an event,inferring the commencement of an event, inferring the conclusion of anevent, identifying a stroke cycle, and calculating at least one of adistance-per-stroke, a measure of force, a measure of efficiency,quality, and a measure of intensity, based on at least some of theinformation sensed by the first sensor.
 20. The interactive music andsmart singing system as recited in claim 15, wherein said secondcomputer is further programmed to create and manage a plurality of gamesfor musicians wherein said games comprise one or more said computers ofmusical opponents connected to said first computer; wherein, each firstcomputer comprises a network port for connecting to said network, aserial data port for receiving a serial data stream from a respectiveset of sensors designed to detect the motion of respective musicalequipment items or controllers being manipulated by a respectivemusician and a port for connecting to its respective display monitorwhere each first computer is programmed to perform the following:Processing the digital data stream from said respective set of sensorsinto game data having a format representing game results of saidmusician; controlling their respective display monitor to provide visualfeedback concerning the progress of the game; Transmitting said gamedata from said first computer musician to said second computer thatcomprises said music and singing competition server; and Polling saidcompetition server for receipt of game data and all messages ofmusicians at remote sites.